The first Audi RS might be the most illustrous of them all. There's such a ambiance to it, it was such a special project...
The cooperation with Porsche resulted in the Audi RS2. It had a 2.2-litre 5-cylinder producing 315 horsepower as standard.
But there have been so much tuners who have played with this car. You must've stumbled across a video in which a car like this had 700 horsepower or something,
which kicks everyones asses.
We might be able to say, no matter how sad it may sound,
but look at it like a tribute to the past. It won't ever become as cool as this anymore.
Anyway. Let's move on to the first RS4, kind of the successor to the RS2,
this B5 here, is also kind of illustrous.
It was powered by a 2.7-litre V6 with two turbo's, producing 380 horsepower.
Back then, that was an enormous amount. It was also incredibly quick,
and even though it was officially limited, you could always push it to speeds like 280 or 290 km/h.
This turbocharged engine was a favorite amongst tuners as well.
There are versions which now produce 800 horsepower, and that makes it a kind of dark beast from the past.
It was successed by a version which was a tad more modest, this B7.
That was because of the way it looked, because it had to become more usable for families.
In the front, something cool happened.
The turbo's disappeared, and were replaced by an atmospheric V8.
It was a 4.2-litre V8 and it produced 420 horsepower. The problem with it was though,
the S-version had the same engine back then, so the difference was smaller.
For the next generation called B8, the V8 remained as the power source.
The power did rise, because it produced 450 horsepower instead of 420.
I have the best memories with this generation, because this is the one I drove the most.
I was able to drive it for a full weekend, so I did a thousand kilometres with it.
It was good, but it wasn't very exciting.
Throughout the years, the excitement declined. Today we're finding out if Audi has done something about that.
Because here it is, the newest RS4, the B9.
We can already tell you, that one had 450 horsepower, but this one does as well.
The difference is however, that that one had a V8,
but this is powered by a V6. A biturbo 2.9-litre V6,
which is also used by Porsche. That's why it's quicker with the same amount of power.
Right, it became a green RS4 Avant. And there's something I want to show you immediately,
because if you see it, you'll know it's the business.
I'm talking of course, about what's under the hood.
I already gave away that it's not longer a V8, but a V6.
You might not be able to tell immediately, apart from seeing the badge on the engine.
It's got two turbo's, instead of a single turbo 3.0-litre in the S4.
The turbo's are in the middle for quick gas response, but what I wanted to show you...
Look at where the front wheels are, this is where the front axle is.
If you then look at the engine, it's half above the axle and half in front of it.
In other sporty cars, the engine is usually further back.
Why is that, you ask? Because it's better for the weight distribution.
I can already tell, without having driven an inch, that engine is too far in the front and you're going to notice.
So is that a bad thing in an Audi? It doesn't have to be.
Audi RS and Audi as a whole is starting to become even more cool, people below 30 all want to buy Audi's,
no matter the cost. The new Q2 has been received very well too.
So what is it all about? It's all about appearance.
So on a RS... The engine might too far forward,
but Audi says 'we have big wheels, big brakes and calipers, and a black RS-grille'.
Also, that bumper... You can't really miss it.
It keeps becoming bigger and wider, and it continues at the back.
Those sideskirts... Then, the exhausts.
Oval ones at RS, in contrast to four individual ones in the S-models.
I can fit my fists in here. And it's not only just a fake tip like you see often nowadays,
it goes all the way through to the bumper. So that's a good thing.
On the inside, it's the same story.
It all looks incredibly good, and Audi knows they attract people with that.
A digital screen like this for example. You can put people who aren't interested in cars...
in a standard Audi A4, and they'll go 'wow, that screen. Beautiful.'
If you tell them a Volkswagen Polo has the same thing, and they don't really know how to respond.
It's just attractive. The same goes for finishing, ergonomics,
but also for the used materials. These buttons... Beautful aluminium,
or these carbon flakes. Beautiful.
It all looks incredibly good, and Audi knows exactly what triggers their own target audience.
Just look at the amount of detail. The green stitching in the steering wheel and leather,
which correspond with the exterior color. Something a RS-buyer will be very happy about.
What a RS-buyer also wants of course, is performance.
He'll be alright in this, because it's so incredibly quick...
And it's 'just' 450 horsepower like it's predecessor.
But with that high-rev V8, you really had to search for that amount of power,
you had to go beyond 8000 RPM. Now, it produces its maximum torque at 2000 RPM.
The moment you put your foot down, blink and it's gone.
If you would've told me it produced 500 horsepower, I would've believed you as well.
That's why you don't have to rev incredibly high. Whatever revs you're driving, it'll go anyway.
The automatic gearbox also supports it, and it's really silky smooth.
That's a key word in this car. 'Smooth', it's all incredibly easy.
There's always traction, because we have quattro,
and if I use Audi Drive Select to go from Comfort to Sport, what happens?
The steering becomes more direct and heavier, the dampers become sturdier,
the automatic gearbox goes into Sport-mode, the valves in the exhaust open up...
There's a good growl to it, a few bangs and booms,
but the V8 sounded so much better. That might be inherent for a car with turbo's,
but Mercedes showed us how it could be done with their C63.
Again, the performance is so incredibly good. This is so quick, that I don't have anything to complain about.
The automatic gearbox however... That is something I'm going to complain about.
If you put it in Sport-mode and you shift with the flappy paddle gearbox... There's nothing, and then there's a small boom.
You shift up, but I don't feel anything.
I want to feel in the drivetrain that I've shifted up. With Porsche's PDK you get a shock when you shift up,
and that's something you want because you want to feel it. If you're braking for a corner for example,
or if you want to shift up. In this, you have to listen or look at the rev counter if you've shifted.
That just doesn't involve you enough in the driving process.
So if I were to come up with a verdict for the dynamic driving of this car, will be about the same as the one Marco had when he drove the RS5.
It's incredibly quick and it's easy to achieve that speed, but 'real' fun?
It's only fun because of the performance. It's incredibly quick and it's incredibly easy to go like hell,
and there's lots of traction, so it's safe... That's the only thing that's fun in here,
going fast tends to be very fun.
Driving fun however... What you have in a MX-5 or a Twingo RS,
cars which don't have lots of power... It's just not something this RS4 possesses.
You can fly through corners in a very quick fashion, but you won't feel like it's because of you.
And that's a verdict we've come to before with Audi RS-models, so the question is; how bad is that?
In this segment, there are four cars battling it out.
The M3/M4, the Mercedes C63, coupé or saloon, Audi RS; RS4 and RS5,
and nowadays, we can include the Giulia Q,
because it really is a hardcore new player in this segment.
In this segment, you're able to make up a four-point matrix.
Bruteness, sharpness, modesty, and luxury and comfort.
And the four cars have all divided themselves across the matrix.
The Giulia Q for example, incredibly brutal and sharp.
The Mercedes? Very luxurious, but brutal at the same time.
The BMW is modest, but incredibly sharp.
So what's left for the Audi? Luxurious and modest.
And even though the proportions aren't completely similar, but the whole spectrum has been covered.
So I can't really say it's an enormous drawback I miss the driving fun.
In the matrix, you can see it's not positioned in that corner.
The Audi RS-buyer won't be looking for that sharpness in the steering. He wants performance, appearance, and incredible amounts of comfort.
And that's exactly what this RS4 possesses. Fantastic.